Excel or Routine Podcast | Ali Telmadarreie (CNERGREEN) on Nanoparticle-Stabilized Foams

In this episode of the Excel or Routine Podcast, I sit down with Ali Telmadarreie, founder of CNERGREEN, to discuss the science, field reality, and business journey behind nanoparticle-stabilized CO₂ foams for EOR, conformance control, and CCUS. To contact Ali: ali.telmadarreie@cnergreen.ca Ali shares his path from academia and research to field deployment and entrepreneurship, explaining what triggered the creation of CNERGREEN and how the company’s mission has evolved to address real operational and decarbonization challenges in mature reservoirs. We discuss when foam makes sense, what differentiates ArmorFoam™ from conventional foams, how to design reliable pilots, define success with the right KPIs, and why CO₂ foam can play a role in low-carbon barrels despite its perceived complexity. Post: https://polymer-flooding.com/2025/12/... You can also check our YouTube channel for additional videos and podcasts and navigate the Polymer Flooding Guide for more content or our Academy for training courses. https://polymer-flooding.com/ https://academy.polymer-flooding.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome Introduction of Ali Telmadarreie and the topic of foam stabilization for EOR. 00:45 – Background: From Academia to Startup Ali explains his PhD background and early research on CO₂ foams and polymers. 02:10 – Birth of SynerGreen & Nanoparticle Foam Concept How nanoparticle-stabilized foam was discovered and led to founding the company. 04:00 – Researcher vs Entrepreneur: A Different Life Key differences between academic research and running a startup as CEO. 05:20 – SynerGreen’s Core Mission Lowering carbon intensity while improving oil recovery using advanced fluids. 06:30 – What the Industry Underestimates About CO₂ Foams Why operational deployment matters more than foam formulation alone. 08:40 – From Lab to Field: Early Surprises How foam behavior changes between lab tests and real reservoirs. 10:20 – Fine-Tuning Foam Formulations Adjusting nanoparticles, surfactants, and chemistry for each reservoir. 12:00 – Convincing Operators Beyond the “Nano” Buzzword Building trust through lab benchmarks, pilots, and field demonstrations. 14:00 – Ideal Reservoir & Operational Conditions Where foam works best and where its limitations appear. 16:00 – Treatment vs Continuous Injection Strategy Why SynerGreen uses staged foam treatments instead of continuous injection. 18:10 – Surfactant Selection & Custom Formulation How surfactants and additives are screened and tailored per client. 20:20 – Controlling Foam Stability & Breakability Designing foams that persist—or collapse—depending on operational needs. 22:10 – Designing Pilot Volumes & Injection Schedules How pilot size and timing are determined without reliable foam simulators. 24:30 – Typical Chemical Concentrations Used Why total chemical loading remains below 1% in most applications. 25:40 – Biggest Challenge: Scaling & Adoption Speed Why slow technology adoption is harder than technical barriers. 26:50 – Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Incremental oil, pressure response, gas utilization, and conformance control. 28:40 – How ArmorFoam Works (Conceptual Model) Blocking high-permeability paths to redirect flow into unswept zones. 30:30 – Foam Viscosity & Apparent Resistance How foam viscosity is designed based on permeability and injectivity. 32:00 – Why ArmorFoam Resists Oil Breakdown Nanoparticle “armoring” versus conventional surfactant foams. 33:30 – Field Deployment & Logistics Simple surface equipment and minimal operational complexity. 35:10 – Pilot Results: Incremental Oil & CO₂ Savings Real field data showing oil gains and reduced CO₂ injection. 36:40 – Interpreting Pressure vs Oil Response Why pressure increase does not always correlate with oil recovery. 39:00 – Can Foam Be a Displacement Agent? Why economics favor conformance control over full displacement. 41:50 – Chevron Technology Ventures Validation How Chevron’s support accelerated credibility and execution. 44:00 – Is Foam Too Risky? Managing Operational Risk Why doing nothing is often riskier than controlled foam deployment. 45:40 – What’s Next: From Pilots to Field-Scale Rollout Scaling the technology across multiple wells and full fields. 47:00 – Advice for Researchers Becoming Entrepreneurs Why fundamentals, field understanding, and business mindset matter. 48:40 – Lessons Learned & What He’d Do Differently The importance of earlier and deeper operator engagement. 50:00 – Pride, Team Building & Motivation What keeps Ali motivated and engaged daily. 51:15 – Final Advice & Closing Thoughts Why entrepreneurship is hard—but worth the journey. 52:15 – Wrap-Up & Farewell Closing remarks and future outlook.